Walter Elmer Ballinger

Dr. Walter Elmer Ballinger, Professor Emeritus of Horticulture at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away November 30, 2020. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Nancy Ellen Bonner Ballinger of Raleigh, NC and their three sons: Walter Samuel Ballinger and his wife Ann of Richmond, VA; Bonner James Ballinger and his wife Sandy of Raleigh, NC; and James Crawford Ballinger and his wife Kim of Trappe, PA.

Walter is also survived by a niece Eileen Liss (Mike), of Burlington, NJ; a nephew Glen A Ballinger (Elaine) of Greenville, SC; and a niece Mary Swenerton Douglas of Vancouver, BC. Walter was the son of the late Samuel H. Ballinger and Marie W. Ballinger of Burlington, NJ. In addition to his parents, Walter is preceded in death by his siblings: Elaine L. Swenerton of Vancouver, BC; Willis A. Ballinger, Bruce A. Ballinger and Samuel W. Ballinger of Burlington, NJ.

Walter attended Springside Grade School and graduated from Wilber Watts High School in Burlington, NJ. He graduated from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ where he majored in Horticulture. He played trumpet in the Rutgers band, was a member of the Alpha Chi Ro fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa, and the fencing team. Walter was the president of Horticulture Club.

While at Rutgers, Walter joined the ROTC (Reserve Officers Training Corps). Upon graduation in 1952 he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. That fall he was sent to Europe where he was assigned to the temporary depot under construction near the town of Angouleme, France. Walter was the construction officer for the entire depot. After active duty, Walter was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves for thirty years.

Walter returned home to New Jersey to help with the management of the family fruit and vegetable farm; however, his younger brother had already filled this role. Instead, Walter decided to continue his studies of fruits and vegetables at Michigan State University. In 1957 Walter received his Masters and Doctorate degrees. He then moved to Raleigh and joined the faculty of the Department of Horticultural Science at North Carolina State University. Walter and his laboratory technician developed a complex and detailed system to extract and qualify the anthocyanins in blue-berries using liquid chromatography, which aided the department’s blueberry breeder. The results were published and earned a national award for outstanding findings in Horticultural research. Walter and his team of scientists developed an Automatic Light Transmission Difference Sorting Ma-chine that efficiently sorted blueberry fruit into many categories of ripeness. The sorting system worked so well it is now used all over the world.

Dr. Ballinger was author of 78 scientific publications, some of which received National Outstanding Awards by the American Society of Horticultural Science. He was invited to be a speaker at the International Peach Conference held in Verona, Italy in 1965. He gave a report on his written chapter in a book ‘Peach Production’ and a similar report at the University of Berlin in 1965. He also wrote a chapter on “Blueberry Production” for a book written by a blueberry researcher at Rutgers University.

In addition to research at NCSU, Professor Ballinger taught a yearly course on “Post-Harvest Physiology”. In 1974 he was chosen to be the NCSU Horticulture Department Teaching Coordinator. Dr. Ballinger also served as a chairman of the Teaching Committee of the School of Agriculture, plus a member of the University Teaching Commit-tee, a member of the ASHS (American Society of Horticultural Science), and served many years as chairman of the Placement Commit-tee. Later, he served the ASHS as Vice-President for Teaching.

The annual National ASHS Meeting was held at NCSU in 1973. Dr. Ballinger was chosen to be overall chairman of the Arrangements Committee for the NCSU campus. Later, at the ASHS meeting held in Boston, MA, Walter was nominated and elected as “Fellow” of the Society by his peers, the highest honor bestowed on members. In 1987, he retired from NCSU.

Dr. Ballinger was also active in the U.S. Army Reserves (1957-1981). Colonel Ballinger was assigned to the U.S. Army Natick Research, Development and Engineering Center in Natick, MA. He cooperated with scientists there in solving many problems related to the development of military rations to be used for all military personnel in case of future conflicts. Today, these rations (Meals Ready to Eat) are also used to feed people during disasters in the world.

Near the end of his 17 tours at Natick Labs, Colonel Ballinger received the Army Meritorious Service medal, plus an “Army Certificate of Appreciation for Patriotic Service,” for dedicated service and significant contributions to research on military subsistence and food service. Upon completion of his activities at Natick Labs, Colonel Ballinger became Commander of the U.S. Army 30th Mobility Detachment for Research and Development in Raleigh, NC.

In 1980, Walter bought 42 acres of land in Franklin County, where he had a choose-and-cut Christmas tree farm. In 1993 he was elected president of the Eastern N.C. Christ-mas Tree Association and assisted in the establishment of an eastern North Carolina Christmas tree research program. The land was sold in 2001 to developers who named the new subdivision “Ballinger Farms.”

Walter’s tremendous contributions to his profession and country were only exceeded by his love for Ellen and his love for Christ, which he manifested with a gentle spirit to everyone who knew him.

Walter is a charter member of Christ Baptist Church, 400 Newton Road, Raleigh, NC 27615.

We are thankful to the staff and helpers at Sunrise for the kind care provided to Walter.

Graveside Services will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 11 am at Raleigh Memorial Park. Memorial gifts may be given to: Walter E. Ballinger Scholarship for Horticulture Students - NC State University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences - Office of the Director/Academic Programs - Campus Box 7642 Raleigh, NC 27695-7642.

If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family you may do so below within "add a memory".